How to Spend an Extra Day in Honolulu

Thanks to one stretch of sandy beach after another, grand estates, sweeping ocean vistas, cool museums, bountiful shopping, and consistently tropical temperatures (without that pesky tropical precipitation), there’s a plethora of ways to while away the hours in the Hawaiian capital city of Honolulu. The southernmost and westernmost major city in the U.S., it has been a cultural hub for centuries, beckoning Pacific, Asian and Western visitors and companies. Today, Honolulu is in the top 10 of most visited cities in the country. Here, a few favorites around town.

Leonard’s Bakery

Leonard’s Bakery / Photo: Courtesy of Leonard’s Bakery

Between 1878 and 1911, some 16,000 Portuguese laborers immigrated to Hawaii, bringing with them many traditional foods, including malasadas.

In 1952, Leonard DoRego, a grandson of two of these workers, founded Leonard’s Bakery and enjoyed quick success due to his and his wife Margaret’s hard work. But it was the malasadas they made at Leonard’s mother’s suggestion that truly made a splash with locals and enshrined Leonard’s Bakery as a must for any lover of baked goods visiting Honolulu.
leonardshawaii.com

The Pig & the Lady

Pho 75 at The Pig & the Lady / Photo: Courtesy of Lianne Rozzelle

From the moment you catch sight of The Pig & the Lady’s porcine-inspired ampersand logo in pink neon, you know your taste buds are in for a treat. At this family-operated restaurant, chef Andrew Le (the pig) applies the culinary skills that have made him a James Beard semifinalist to the traditional Vietnamese recipes of his mother, Loan “Mama” Le (the lady), while his older brother, Alex, oversees the operations. Go for the Pho 75 and Pho French Dip Bahn Mi, stay for the P&L Soft Serve Swirl.
thepigandthelady.com

Chart House Waikiki

Since 1968, Chart House Waikiki has been a warm and inviting landmark, built by international surfing champion-turned-restaurateur Joey Cabell and overlooking Ala Wai Harbor. Here, guests indulge in favorites including the incredibly tender Joey’s famous garlic prime steak, ahi mignon and the restaurant’s award-winning Guy Tai (Joey’s take on the mai tai), all while watching the sun set over the boats in the harbor.
charthousewaikiki.com

Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design

Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design / Photo: Courtesy of Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art

Doris Duke built her palatial five-acre oceanfront retreat, Shangri La, to house her enormous collection of Islamic art. Following her death in 1993, a codicil in Duke’s will established the Doris Duke Foundation to ensure that Shangri La (reopened as the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design in 2002) be “available to scholars, students and others interested in the furtherance and preservation of Islamic art.”
shangrilahawaii.org